Obama’s grandmother to travel to the US

Ã‚Â Mama Sarah Obama is to travel to the US to witness the inauguration of her grandson on January 20United States President-elect Barack Obama’s grandmother Sarah Obama is to travel to the US to witness the inauguration of her grandson in Washington DC.

Mama Sarah left her Nyang’oma Kogelo home in an upbeat mood heading to Nairobi where she is to sort out her travel documents before traveling to the US for the grand occasion.

Before her departure on Sunday evening her home was a beehive of activity as government officials led by Siaya District Commissioner Boaz Cherutich and his deputy Ratunka ole Kikua converged to bid her farewell.

87 year old Mama Sarah said she was delighted to have the opportunity to attend her grandson’ inauguration as the President of the United States of America, saying the occasion was historical not only for the USA and Kenya but for the whole world.

She said the entourage to the USA would carry with them a Luo traditional stool, a fly whisk and a shield to present to her grandson, in line with the Luo tradition.

“Wadhi gure e kom mondo oti ne jo piny (we are going to install him on the throne so that he can serve humanity),” she said in Dholuo language.

The Siaya DC said a five day extravaganza organized by the government and the local community that will showcase among other things the community’s culture, history and sports has been organized to celebrate the occasion starting from January 16.

Obama’s inauguration is set for January 20.

According to Foreign affairs minister Moses Wetangula only invited guests, ambassadors in the United States and their spouses are to attend the newly elected president Barrack Obama’s inauguration ceremony in Washington.

Wetangula says the inauguration is purely a US domestic affair and no foreign leaders are scheduled to attend.

However Wetangula said he is leading a delegation to Washington to attend an African party in honour of President Obama and will be accompanied by minister for medical services, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, sports minister Dr. Helen Sambili, tourism minister Najib Balala who is already in the U.SÃ‚Â to promote tourism, MPs Hassan Joho, Eugene Wamalwa, Speaker Of The National Assembly, Kenneth Marende and Nobel laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai.

“I have been invited as a guest speaker at the African bash on the eve of Obama’s inauguration,” said Mr. Wetangula.

Wetangula expressed optimism that the election of Obama as America’s President would increase and the level of cooperation between Kenya and the U.S.

On the Somali issue, Wetangula said the elections for a new president have been scheduled for January 26 with the hopes that the new president will be able to unite the warring factions.

On the Congo crisis, Wetangula said that the ongoing peace process is encouraging and Kenya was hoping to see a ceasefire soon.

“Kenya will continue playing the role of bringing peace,” said the minister.

Meanwhile Wetangula has clarified that according to the National Accord of which he was party to, the Prime Minister and Muthaura play very distinct roles.

He termed as ill advised attacks against Muthaura saying whereas the Prime ministerÃ¢â‚¬Ëœs role was to supervise ministers, Muthaura was the head of the Civil Service.

The tussle over Nuthaura’s role emerged after the dissolution of the Electoral Commission of Kenya when Muthaura appointed a 38 member transition team that included former staff of the defunct ECK.

Prime Minister, Raila Odinga at the same time ordered the closure of all ECK offices to pave way for consultations on the new team’s composition.

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